It's A Bad, Bad, Bad World

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." - Galatians 5:16-21

Part of my daily routine is to scan the news headlines on Yahoo News.  It is an amalgamation of news from a number of sources.  As I read the headlines my mind always drifts to Galatians chapter 5. The contrast described between the natural order of things, our old nature, and the spiritual order of things, our new nature. These are a few of the headlines.

A party like no other? Asia's richest man celebrates son's prenuptials with a star-studded bash

Trans prisoner Tiffany Scott dies in jail

Appeals court ruling that vacates Capitol rioter's sentence could impact dozens of Jan. 6 cases

Arizona mom yelled, 'I am going to kill you,' as she drove through park, tried to run over kids: police

Putin warns of ‘destruction of civilization’. Hear retired general’s response

Lady Gabriella Windsor’s husband Thomas Kingston died from ‘catastrophic’ head wound, inquest hears

Assistant director says armorer handed gun to Alec Baldwin before fatal shooting of cinematographer

Former NBA player, actor gets 90 years to life in California State Prison for violent sexual assaults

Restaurant staff save choking guest's life with heimlich manoeuvre [What!!! Some good news?!]

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton beat impeachment. Now he wants Super Tuesday revenge on his foes

Multi-Passenger Brawl Erupts on RyanAir Flight: ‘There Was No Calming the Situation’

Those headlines go on ad nauseum! The headlines are merely a reflection of the world we live in and a validation of what Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians. Paul likely wrote his Epistle to the Galatians while traveling through Macedonia during his third missionary journey in about A.D. 55–57. It's been a minute since he put pen to parchment! And, you might have not noticed from those headlines, the fallen nature of mankind has not changed in 2024. Technology has changed exponentially but the heart of man has not.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." - Jeremiah 17:9-10

As Christians we must live out our natural lives being situationally aware of the environment we live in. Is there good that happens in the world? Yes. Are there people who are not guilty of evil actions against others? Yes

But that does not mean that they are made right before God by good works. 

"And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." - Luke 18:18-19

There are none righteous, no not one! Our goodness is not found in us but in God through faith in Jesus.

Be the Light!

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone